Photography of former stations on lines that are still open

[whole diary]

[grahame]

I'm seeing pictures on my Facebook feed of an old station site in Wiltshire. Lovely to see - but please if you are taking such pictures, please be safe, please follow the rules which are there to keep everyone - including you the photographer - safe. i really don't want to be writing your obituary here.

This post is not directed at any current Coffee Shop members - it's posted here as a permanent reminder to everyone, and as a link I can use when writing elsewhere. But never the less it's a reminder to us all:
   * to be safe
   * to act in such a way that others feel safe
   * to set a good example to others

The warning could be worldwide - picture from New Zealand but same message for the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) - let's look at what you can and can't (legally) do in the UK ...

Network Rail's website includes a couple of links - neither of which really addresses taking pictures of old station sites on still operational lines. However, quoting here as they are useful background.

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/looking-after-the-railway/delays-explained/vandalism-and-trespass/
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/railway-enthusiasts/railway-enthusiasts-and-photography-at-stations/

Update - Using drones to reach places you cannot go yourself. NO - not if it's at all close to the railway.
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/safety-in-the-community/drone-safety-law-unmanned-aircraft-vehiclesuavs/

* Yes, you may take pictures from public areas of the railway - platforms, footbridges, subways (not that you'll see much from a subway), etc.  At a staffed station, please let the station team (duty manager if the stations's big enough to have one) know. Please do not do anything that will get in the way or be dangerous - blocking walkways, being near the edge of the platform, and do not use flash photography - especially (but not limited to) when photographing trains. 

* No, you may not stray off the public areas to take pictures elsewhere from the railway land.  You may not think it dangerous, but you may not be aware of the dangers - the rotten cover on the old cesspit, the old rail waiting to trip you up, the train that's running through the site and coasting so you don't hear it until it's literally on top of you.

* And of course you may take pictures from public places which have a view of the railway - overbridges, footpaths, views across the valley, etc.  Even there, be careful.  Imagine ... an overbridge on a quiet lane, train approaches and you take a picture and dash across the road to take a picture of it from the other side; sadly, the lane may be quiet but as you dash across the road, a car comes along ...

* Footnote 1 - care on public level crossings, especially on foot crossings with just fixed signs.  "Stop, look, listen, then cross quickly but not rushed when you are sure it is safe" is good advise.  And that advise does not include allowing time to stop, pick daisies or take photographs.

* Footnote 2 - some old stations on working lines have been demolished.  At others, station building have been sold off and are now may be a business or a private residence.  Please respect the business / owner's privacy - do not go trampling through their garden, just as you would not want people wandering around your own garden at home.  Nothing to stop you seeking permission and it may be granted, but bear in mind that whilst it may be your first visit, the owner will probably have had many, many others asking him in the past.

Finally, a recommendation to take a look at the excellent http://www.disused-stations.org.uk - Disused Stations - which included a huge number of pictures and data from up and down the country, with links to sources and groups who can help you in your quest to record history in a legal, decent, honest and safe way.

Sometimes, you might have be picture appears to be taken from a dangerous location, but are safe ("legal decent and honest"). I'm thinking, for example, of pictures taken during the very occasional special tours and at open days. If you're publishing such a picture in a context where the exceptional nature and safety of it's taking aren't obvious, please include a footnote / explanation with your post.

Disclaimer - I am not a legal or safety expert; the above is written to the best of my knoweldge and you should check authoritatve sources if in any doubt. Please let me know of any issues you feel I should add or clarify so that I can get back and clarigy this article too.  I know I won't be popular with certain parties who feel that they're above the law and that they were only on the tracks "for a couple of minutes" - but if I reach even a handful of people and make them think safe I will be happy and can take the flack from those parties.

[grahame]

Here are five pictures of closed stations on open lines - all in Wiltshire, all my pictures, all taken in accordance with the above guidelines.  Not the best pictures - but then I'm not one who spends much time recording closed stations.   How many can you identify?

1.


2. Lacock - Bmblbzzz


3. Corsham - Martyjon


4. Wilton South - Rogerw


5.


Edit to add identities and identifier as they're worked out.

[Bmblbzzz]

I think 2 is Lacock and 1 might be Wootton Bassett.

[martyjon]

3. Is no.3 Corsham ?

[grahame]

I think 2 is Lacock and 1 might be Wootton Bassett.

3. Is no.3 Corsham ?

No. 2 in indeed Lacock and No. 3 is Corsham.  No. 1 isn't [Royal] Wootton Bassett though.

[bobm]

4 looks to be Swindon's "other station" - Swindon Town

[grahame]

4 looks to be Swindon's "other station" - Swindon Town

Hmm ... not looked around there very much.   Sorry, no, it isn't.

[rogerw]

4 is Dinton.

[grahame]

4 is Dinton.

Is it called that, or is that one stop along?  I call it "Wilton South"

[rogerw]

Wilton South it is.  The problem of having adjacent stations designed by the same architect 

[grahame]

To complete ... No. 5 is Staverton and No. 1 is Salsibury (Fisherton Street GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) station, now SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) Depot)

[grahame]

I have updated the 'lead' article on this thread to add a comment about drones - which you CANNOT use to access the places you're not allowed to go to because you would be trespassing!

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/safety-in-the-community/drone-safety-law-unmanned-aircraft-vehiclesuavs/

Further comment from a members only area:

No closer than 50m (150ft) from people or property. Unless you have a commercial drone operators licence from the CAA^» (Civil Aviation Authority - about) and permission from property owner.

https://dronesafe.uk/drone-code/

So you can film near railways provided you are at least 50m away from the lineside boundary, and are on public/common land or have landowner permission. Over flying isn't recommended, even above 50m, and common sense hazard awareness (particularly of overhead electrified lines) needs applying.

[grahame]

From the Bournemouth Echo - a slightly different drone story

A DRONE was reportedly seen flying over Swanage Railway on Sunday morning.

Swanage Railway said they had received reports of a drone being flown in the area of Corfe Castle.

It is also a criminal offence to fly a drone on, over or within 50 metres of the railway or within 150 metres in built up areas.

Network Rail says anyone found to be in breach of this could be taken to court and face a penalty of up to £2,500.

Swanage Railway urged the operator to crease flying the drone within the restricted area and said the matter was being reported to Dorset Police.

[grahame]

And another, from Gizmodo

Irritating Drone Owners Warned to Keep Their Toys Away From Trains Too

Drone owners have found a new way to annoy the rest of the population; bothering trains now too. This development is being talked about in serious voice fashion by Network Rail and British Transport Police, who say a rogue pilot endangered the timely running of a heritage service as it ran between Farnborough and Woking earlier this month.

[stuving]

And another, from Gizmodo

Irritating Drone Owners Warned to Keep Their Toys Away From Trains Too

Drone owners have found a new way to annoy the rest of the population; bothering trains now too. This development is being talked about in serious voice fashion by Network Rail and British Transport Police, who say a rogue pilot endangered the timely running of a heritage service as it ran between Farnborough and Woking earlier this month.

Here's the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) press release behind that.

Friday 26 Apr 2019
Network Rail and British Transport Police issue warning to drone pilots following incident in Surrey

Route:     Wessex

Network Rail and the British Transport Police have warned drone pilots to keep away from the railway or risk being taken to court and facing a £2,500 penalty following an incident in Surrey earlier this month. 

Network Rail are working with the British Transport Police to investigate footage posted online in which a drone appears to fly dangerously close to the railway between Farnborough and Woking as the Flying Scotsman passed through on April 12.

Helen Yorke, route crime manager for Network Rail’s Wessex route, said:

    “This was a very concerning incident which put the safety of passengers, railway staff and members of the public at risk.

    “Network Rail has a team of pilots and specialist approved contractors who are the only people permitted to fly drones near the railway. We do this as inspecting the railway by air is both effective and efficient reducing disruption to train services or the need for workers to go trackside.

Inspector Andy Jackson from the British Transport Police said:

    “First and foremost, flying a drone near to the railway can be extremely dangerous. It is a criminal offence to fly a drone on, over or within 50 metres of the railway and it is important that any would-be drone pilots are aware of this.

    “These strict guidelines, put in place by the Civil Aviation Authority, are there to ensure the safety of those who are using the railway, including passengers, rail staff and the pilots of the drones.

    “British Transport Police will always conduct vigorous investigations where we have evidence that drones are being flown illegally near the railway.”

If you witness what you believe to be dangerous use of a drone, please call 101 stating the location and time, and capture any evidence you can of the offence.

Network Rail welcomes rail enthusiasts who want to film or take photos at our stations safely. Guidance designed to help you have a safe and enjoyable experience can be found here:

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/railway-enthusiasts/railway-enthusiasts-and-photography-at-stations/

ENDS